Pura Vida Tapas & Bar

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Vinoloca

Joined 4 years ago

Great Brunch, Great Tapas. I've been to Pura Vida a few times, and they are always doing something new and exciting. Their brunch menu is unique and delicious... especially the pineapple french toast. It is equisite. The deconstructed spanish omelet is one of my favorites as well! Pura Vida now has $3 tapas specials on the weekdays that are a great deal. They usually have about 8 or so, and we typically wind up ordering almost all of them. It's one of the best deals in Atlanta. The staff is very knowledgeable, and helpful. I went to a birthday party with a large group this week, in one of their private dining rooms. The food was delicious... the mussels are some of the best in the City and the mofongo (fried mashed plantains with slow cooked goat) is one of my favorites. Chef Santiago is amazing!

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dianein30319

Joined 5 years ago

Best Tapas in Atlanta!. I have been to many of the tapas restaurants in Atlanta. Pura Vida is serving up some unique items. Had no idea that they did so many weekly events. I am looking forward to Mojito Monday when the weather gets better!!! This was my first time there. I love Virginia Highlands and there are a few places to choose from, but this seems to have a much more social atmosphere. Try the Shrimp CEVICHE. Haven't had any this good in Atlanta yet!! I looked at the Brunch menu and will have to check it out!

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KaitlynW

Joined 4 years ago

Fit for foodies!. I don't understand the complaints about portions being too small. I mean they're tapas, they're meant to be small. I spent some time in Spain, where tapas originated, and they're even smaller over there. And some of the tapas we ordered were huge, like the pizza. The empanadas were quite big and filling too. And mmm, the plate of mussels were big too and SO DELICIOUS! I recommend getting extra bread for the yummy leftover sauce. Our server was great at helping us with the menu and recommending things for us.

Doesn't Recommend

hanajon

Joined 7 years ago

Portion sizes that keep you slim (and hungry!). The food tastes good. No argument there. But I would be embarrassed to serve such tiny portions for $7 to $10. The marginal cost of putting another dollop on the plate is negligible. It just sends a message that making money is more important than centuries-old traditions of hospitality and graciousness. Even our server was surprised that, thanks to a heavy hand on the ice, the pitcher of sangria meant to fill six glasses was empty after filling four. Why so parsimonious with the portions? I guess I'll never find out---I've been there six or seven times and I'm done with it.

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panophobic

Joined 5 years ago

Love at first bite. Love this place. The food and service here have always been great. The ambiance is very romantic in a casual way -- great place for a date! I love getting a pitcher of sangria. Instead of putting ice in the pitcher, they serve it with glasses of ice so you can drink it as fast or as slow as you want and you don't have to worry about it getting watered down. One of my favorite dishes is the ceviche de hongitos. It's a subtle yet delicious melange of delicately flavored ingredients that play off of each other so well - mushrooms, celery hearts, salty aged cheese, and spicy yet fruity peppers. Mmm.

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anthony200

Joined 5 years ago

RE: Do not go for 'just drinks'. i just wanna say to the person w/ 'do not go there for just drinks.'..its not just there, don?t go anywhere and get a table if ur not eating especially in a Saturday night ..im a waiter and spoiled people like you that make our life miserable, we d rather go home if we re making no money so if u cant get a damn spot by the bar or you are on a budget go somewhere else or for god sake stay home and order a pizza...

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Jillian_UTexas

Joined 5 years ago

Excellent Food and Atmosphere. We made an 8:45pm reservation and were seated promptly towards the back of the restaurant in a quite and secluded room. Everything we ordered was delicious, including the amazing margaritas and mojitos. This restaurant was very romantic and would be the perfect place for a first date, to bring out-of-town friends or to celebrate something special. We absolutely loved it. The service was also excellent. Will definitely return.

Doesn't Recommend

ugaswthrt

Joined 6 years ago

Do not go for 'just drinks'. I went with a group of friends for drinks a few Saturdays ago. It was after 10pm, and the bar was full, so we asked if it would be possible to get a table. We told the hostess we would mainly just be ordering drinks, but she said that was fine since they weren't on a wait. After we got seated, the server came by to take our order and upon learning we would mainly be ordering beverages, she became excessively rude. She told us we weren't allowed to sit at her table and not order food. When we told her the hostess said it was all right for us to sit there, she just walked away to complain to managers who told her that we were fine to sit there. She came back and wouldn't even make eye contact with us as she asked for our drink order. That was enough for us. We told her nevermind, we were leaving, and we walked out. The whole experience was embarrassing and demeaning. I will never through the doors of Pura Vida again.

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ChefGrl

Joined 5 years ago

Best meal I have had in a long time. Don't listen to Jimmy - this was by far the best night of dining our group has had. Out table ordered one of everythiing on the menu - yes a bit pricy - but we were on a quest. Everything I put in my mouth was delicious. The combinations of flavors and textures are a reflection of the genius of the owner/Chef - Hector Santiago. If you want a whole tuna - then I would suggest you go else where. The staff was courteous, knew the ingredients of all items on the menu and how they were cooked. They were able to make excellent suggetions of wines and drinks to accompany the dishes. Overall our dining experience was phenomenal. Maybe Jimmy doesn't understand what TAPAS means. It DOES NOT MEAN AN ENTIRE PLATE OF FOOD. Look it up in the dictionary while you're eating at Chili's.

Doesn't Recommend

JimmyTrip

Joined 5 years ago

Way Overpriced and Embarassing Portions!. I have not been disappointed and left with a feeling of being cheated out of my money like I was at Pura Vida during a recent visit. It was our first time there and after waiting 20+ min (when we could see multiple empty tables) we were finally seated. Every tapas plate is $8-10 and for tapas the portions were SO SMALL! We paid $10 for a tuna plate where the tuna would have barely added up to 1/3 the tuna found in a piece of sashimi! Every other plate was equally disappointing. Save your hard-earned money and try someplace else. We ended up getting a frozen pizza on the way home since we were still so hungry (and we're thin people!). The sangria was pretty terrible as well. Avoid!